User Posts : The Southwest Voice

All fired up!

When a school has “Liberty” in its name and a “Patriot” as its mascot, it only makes sense that fireworks sales would be a large part of its annual fundraising efforts. Make that the largest, if you’re talking about Parents Administrators Teachers Support, or PATS, as the booster club is cleverly acronymed.

“Absolutely it’s our biggest fundraiser of the year,” said John DeFede, PATS vice president. “The Fourth of July is very good for the Liberty Patriots.”

For the 10th year, the support group will raise money for the band of the Northwest area high school. Funds go toward offsetting such expenses as transportation, uniforms, instrument repair and musical scores. This year’s fundraiser is especially important for the organization due to cutbacks within the Kern High School District. That tune is played like a broken record throughout Kern County’s education system, including Bakersfield High School, which has a booth sponsored by its athletic boosters, for lest we forget there’s currently a recession.

This year, the collective, community-minded fingers of PATS and scores of other Bakersfield non-profits in the Northwest and Southwest are crossed in hope that patriotism will prevail over a downturned economy. Working in favor of the community organizations is the July 4 falling on a Friday, which boosts sales of state-approved fireworks over a non-weekend holiday, according to market leader TNT Fireworks.

“Tradition tends to be recession-proof, and for most Americans, enjoying fireworks on Independence Day is one of the strongest, especially when it’s over a weekend,” said Louis Linney, Central California general manager of American Promotional Events, the wholesale distributor of state-approved TNT fireworks. “Other reasons we predict more families and neighbors will celebrate the holiday together are the general economy and high cost of travel keeping people at home this season.”

In Kern County, nearly 300 non-profits will raise money over three and a half selling days, starting July 1. Exceptions are Delano and Wasco, which follow California’s customary period of June 28 through July 4.

While PATS is peddling Pyropetes, Pink Diamonds and Purple Rain fountains at its TNT stand in the Albertson’s Supermarket parking lot, 13045 Rosedale Highway, Olive Drive Church, 5500 Olive Drive, in the Northwest will try to sell its fair share of fountains, spinners, smoke items and novelties on its own property.

Not to discount the edible efforts of the church’s “Growling Dogs Barbecue Team,” but proceeds from the tri-tip these six cooks grill for the spring fundraiser pale in comparison to funds raised through fireworks.

“This will be the 14th year the church has sold fireworks,” said Kim Coats, administrative assistant and fundraising chair who resides in the Southwest. “We’ve been doing this for so long that our congregants are actually looking forward to this time of year. We have an aggressive presale program with kids going around, and it gives the members and the community an opportunity to support the children. All profits go to the youth department to send kids to camp, several of whom wouldn’t be able to go otherwise because their families can’t afford to send them.”

The youth ministry of Liberty Christian Center in south Bakersfield plans to send children of their own to summer camp with profits from its TNT stand on the southeast corner of White Lane and Buena Vista Road.

“Funds from last year’s sales helped send students to Shaver Lake, where they experienced a great week of jet skiing, tubing, fishing, hiking, relationship building and spiritual teaching,” said Brian Coates, who is chairing the church’s third fireworks fundraiser.

“All the money we raise goes toward youth ministry activities and missionary support, so it does more than help low-income families or those with multiple kids who can use some help sending teens to camp,” Coates said. “But between a choice of going or not going, we prefer to subsidize these families to better the lives of local teenagers.”

The fundraising and Fourth of July spirit also is shared by Bakersfield Southwest Baseball of the Pony League, which is excited about more than just moving from Cal State Bakersfield to new Aera Park on the northeast corner of Stockdale Highway and Jewetta Avenue.

“We’re looking forward to a very successful fundraiser that will help pay for everything from equipment to maintenance to whatever the league needs,” said Shun Yonemitsu, a resident of The Oaks and chair of the group’s fourth fireworks sale. “The money makes it easier to run the league.”

The TNT stand, which benefits the 1,600-strong youth league for players ages 5 to 18, will be located at 6501 White Lane.

Another Southwest group that will brave the heat for four days for a good cause is Coyote Club Amateur Wrestling, which for the 21st year will raise money for Bakersfield College’s wrestling program, Cal State Bakersfield athletic scholarships, CIF Central Section wrestling tournament awards and other grappler causes.

“Keeping youths busy and off the streets, and building their character through a terrific sport called wrestling — that’s what we do,” said Mike Stricker, founding executive board member and current CEO of the amateur wrestling support group.

The Southwest area resident is in his 17th year chairing or co-chairing the organization’s stand, which will again be located at 3500 Panama Lane.

On the subject of building the hearts, minds and bodies of local youth through sports, Bakersfield High Athletic Boosters will set up shop next to the FoodMaxx Supermarket, 6300 White Lane.

To the south, in Arvin, Templo Ebenezer is playing no Ebenezer Scrooge by capitalizing on Independence Day for a better Christmas.

“We’re going to buy children toys for Christmas and provide food for the needy,” said Israel Martinez, who is chairing the church’s second fireworks fundraiser. “Through last year’s sales we were able to help families have great holidays.”

Under-privileged children who may not otherwise participate in the larger and costlier church activities also will benefit from a portion of Templo Ebenezer’s profits made at the TNT stand next to the church at 1200 Mark St.

“Without money made from fireworks, it would be very difficult to provide for the community and kids who do not have the funds to go to camps and conventions,” Martinez said.

A list of stand locations, safety tips and product information are available at: www.tntfireworks.com

Beautiful disaster — freedom in America

Leisure reading for me a while back consisted of “The Federalist Papers,” and I’m grateful it was so. It is amazing how much truth can be gleaned when one goes to the source, rather than relying on a mouthpiece that purports to educate you on its version of what the source says. Case in point: a U.S. Government class in high school told me that our Founding Fathers had distaste for all religion, thus, the addition of the First Amendment. However, writings from the Founding Fathers themselves indicate that they were men of faith and only wanted church and state separated because they did not want any one religion seizing the state to make all citizens involuntary converts. They never indicated that religion, and the very mention of God, be left out of the state all together.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” — from the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. You might be more familiar with this quote in the form it is usually transcribed, with ellipses conveniently placed between the words “equal” and “with certain unalienable rights.” They made mention of God in our country’s most sacred documents, but children are no longer allowed to make mention of Him even in an essay without fear of repercussion.

Religion is a topic which we have dissected so thoroughly and prided ourselves with such a philosophical understanding of how we can implement it into our freedom, that to even speak of such can be politically incorrect. A beautiful disaster to be sure, and a paradox at heart. But, as with all paradoxes, one attribute will inevitably fail. Which will win then in our American freedom? The beauty or the disaster?

If we keep the courage our forefathers had, I hope beauty will prevail because the declaration also states, in talking about “light and transient causes,” that “mankind [is] more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.”

In other words, sometimes it’s better to let America be America, and our freedom be the freedom it has been for all these years, than to change the way this country operates to fit a smaller, but louder, agenda.

Happy birthday, Austin Saffell!

Happy 18th birthday, Austin Saffell!

Zinfandel adds a bang to July 4th!

“Which wine could you possibly recommend for the Fourth of July celebrations, Ann?” I can hear the sympathetic clucks from the wine lovers’ gallery now. Hot dogs, hamburgers, barbecued spare ribs and tri-tip, salsa, baked beans, potato salad, homemade ice cream, strawberry shortcake, watermelon! Wow! The only all-American beverage to go with that big a variety of tastes is beer, or iced tea, or maybe Pepsi. Wines are European — they don’t belong at our picnics and barbecues. Wine just isn’t American even though we make some of the world’s best. It just doesn’t belong, right?
Wrong.

If it tastes good, complements the food, and you like it, it belongs. And besides, there really is an American wine — Zinfandel.

While it is true that the origins of this tasty red wine go back to Croatia, and it appears to have arrived in the East Coast well before the Gold Rush, Zinfandel was made popular (rescued from obscurity, too) right here in California, where it arrived by 1852 and was planted in both Napa and Sonoma counties in 1859. It was the most popular wine among miners and was planted throughout the state. It is a prolific grape and was widely used during Prohibition by home winemakers. Wine drinkers worldwide mention and acknowledge Zin as the American wine and California as its home.

It was a common red table wine up through World War II, but it began to decline in popularity and plantings until the advent of white Zinfandel in 1972, which became a phenomenal best-seller. It still is, by the way. In the 1990s, there was a resurgence of quality red Zinfandels and many of us firmly believe that you get “the most bang for your buck” with a fine bottle of delicious, jammy red from Carlisle, Ridge, Rosenblum, Seghesio, JC Cellars from Sonoma County, or Linne Calodo and Four Vines from our close-by Paso Robles area. Many more, like Turley, and Ravenswood, make wonderful Zins from all over the state.

OK, you’re going to drink it because it’s America’s wine. But I want you to discover how many types and tastes there are to Zinfandel. Take along a nice, semi-sweet Sutter Home or Beringer White Zin on your picnics. It’s a very pleasant wine to sip before the heavy main courses. Roses (ro-zays) or Blush wines are perfect for picnics.

With hamburgers and hot dogs, and dependent on how much mustard and relish is used, try a medium-bodied boysenberry-flavored red from Cline. When the barbecues are smokin’ and the beans are steamin’, pour a glass of deep jammy blackberry-taste from D-Cubed or The Maverick of Four Vines! Delicious — big, heavy foods with big, heavy, spicy wines that will add to the flavors.

For dessert, try a Zinfandel Port or a Late Harvest Zin. They’re terribly sweet, high in alcohol, and a drop or two will light up the night skies, along with the fireworks!

They do go well with the strawberries and/or ice-cream, though.
Give them all a try!

Questions? Comments? Send Ann e-mail at:acierley@etcrier.net

4th of July issue -- need photos!

The Southwest Voice needs YOUR

4th of July photos

for our upcoming issue!

Do you have full resolution (not resized) digital photos of your family during 4th of July events? How about anything patriotic? A parade? A field of flags?

How would you like to see your family or your photo on our cover? The Southwest Voice asks for your photos for consideration for the June 25th edition cover photo!

Please email them to dmartin@swvoice.com by Wednesday at noon.

Southwest Voice deadline for submissions!

Greetings, Southwest neighbors!

First... Happy belated Father's Day to all SW dads! I hope your day was enjoyable and that you were thanked repeatedly for all that you do as a dad.

Next, I hope you are enjoying the new issue of The Southwest Voice! Have you seen it?

The Southwest Voice, June 11th issue!!

SW neighbor Patty Scott researched and called and hunted down prices and locations for all sorts of summertime fun so that YOU wouldn't have to! Be sure to get a copy (or two) of this issue to keep on hand when the kids soon say, "I'm bored!"

The issue is great for other reasons, too.

On the inside cover you will find a coupon for a free appetizer at RJ's Bar & Grill (on Hageman & Calloway)! What? Free?? YES!
Having computer troubles? Dynamic Technology Solutions can solve them. Call 831-0064 and see their ad on pg. 11 for a complete list of services.
Halle Rose's Fantasy Tea Parties has moved to the East Hills Mall and is under new ownership! Call 872-5110 (and mention the SW Voice) for a great deal on a dress-up tea party for your little girl this summer!

Also...it's time again for another great issue! The deadline for the next issue of The Southwest Voice (4th of July special issue!) is tomorrow, June 17th at 9:00 p.m. Here are some ideas of things we are always looking for:

Educator of the month
Athlete of the month
Blogs, thoughts, ideas on topics of your choice
"Take 'The Voice' on Vacation" photo contest entries (make sure we can see a copy of "The Voice" in your summer photos!)
4th of July memories, photos, or general patriotic articles
Announcements, birthdays
Advertiser mania: Did you use one of the coupons or one of the advertisers in our Voice? Write a few sentences describing where you went or how you used the advertiser and you may win a FREE Southwest Voice T-shirt!!

Last, as always, if you have any ideas, have questions about your free subscription to The Southwest Voice, or are having touble with learning how to submit your stories or photos online, please feel FREE to email me!

All good things,

Dana

Summer fun: Activities for the entire family

Well, it’s here … the heat of summer. After a beautiful spring, it was inevitable that our 100-degree weather would hit. And, of course, the hot weather comes at the time that our children are all getting out of school. This is the time to start thinking about what to do during the coming summer months. You can have a plan in place long before the fated words, “I’m bored” ever exit your child’s mouth.

Over the past six years I’ve been trying to master the art of what makes for a great summer here in Bakersfield. Thankfully, the options are getting broader all the time. For you veterans of Bakersfield summers, I hope to offer a few things you haven’t considered, and for those of you who are new here, don’t fret, you can make the summer one of your favorite seasons. And fall will eventually be here again (sometime in mid-November).

Water fun
There’s nothing like water to cool off during the heat. If your children need to take swim lessons, it isn’t too late to sign them up. You can call Cal State Bakersfield (654-2071) and enroll your children in two weeks of half-hour lessons for $70 per session running from June 9-July 31. American Kids Sports (589-2100) has swim lessons at $109 per session. Their sessions are eight weeks in duration with one class day a week. Our Bakersfield Parks and Recreation also offers swim lessons as well as recreational swimming. Visit: www.bakersfieldcity.us or call 326-FUNN for details. All city pools are open June 2 to Aug. 8 from around noon to 5 p.m. daily. If you aren’t up for a swim, you can check out the water spray parks around town at Beale, Jastro, Jefferson, MLK, Planz and Wayside parks. The McMurtrey Aquatic Center (located behind Rabobank Arena) has family fun nights and extreme teen nights as well as “float in” movies (June 13 is “Free Willy” and July 18 is “The Water Horse”).

If you feel like a bit of a road trip, you can visit one of the many waterparks that are within a two-hour drive of Bakersfield. Our family went to the new waterpark “The Ravine” in Paso Robles last summer and it was a great way to spend a day. Six Flags Magic Mountain has “Hurricane Harbor” in Valencia (255-4100); Knotts Berry Farm has “Soak City” in Anaheim; and there’s the “Wild Water Adventure Park” in Clovis.

Get creative
A few local stores have year-round FREE (yes, free!) activities for children. Michael’s has Saturday classes at least once a month and plans to have more over the summer from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (call the store for details at 587-5334). Home Depot also has a little builder event the first Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to noon, and your child can build something there for FREE (yes free). In addition, Color Me Mine at the Marketplace (664-7366) has Adventures in Art camps Mondays through Thursdays 2 to 4 p.m. Or you can just pop in with your young ones and decorate some pottery for a crafty, air-conditioned break in your day. One friend of mine likes to take her children to Simply Scrapbooks (325-2767) for a day of making memories together. Michelle at Simply Scrapbooks is planning a Kids Camp where children can spend a week doing a Clear Acrylic Beach Ball Album to put their summer memories together. The class will run for one week from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (B.Y.O. lunch) for ages 7 and up.

For the more dramatic child, there are several theater productions for children each summer. Stars Theatre (716-0316) has four productions this summer—two of “Willie Wonka” and two of “Jungle Book” — which are performed by children (ages 6-18) enrolled in their summer workshops. You can enroll your children in these workshops, or you can purchase tickets to go see the plays (325-6100), which will be performed at the Harvey Auditorium at BHS. In addition, they offer a “Fairy Tale Theatre” for children ages 2-6, which runs from June 2-27 from 10 a.m. to noon. The Gaslight Melodrama Theatre (587-3377) also has a six-week workshop starting June 30 with two sessions available each day (9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m.).

Don’t just sit there…
The local miniature golf and go-cart family fun center Camelot Park has discount admission Saturday mornings from 10 to 11 a.m. Have you been bowling lately? The Southwest Lanes (834-2695) and Westchester Lanes (324-4996) are great places to bring a group of kids for some summer fun. And, what could be cooler than ice-skating on a hot summer day? The Bakersfield Ice Sports Center is located directly behind Rabobank Arena on the corner of 13th and Q streets. Public skating hours are offered through the summer every Wednesday from 6 to 8:30 p.m. If ice skating sounds too challenging, you may want to try wheels instead. Rollerama (589-7555) has skates for rent. For children ages 2 to 6, Pump It Up has public play time from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Fridays and during the summer they add another session from noon to 1:30 p.m. This is a great way to get the bounce out of your little Tigger without breaking the furniture.

If you want a more sedate activity, there are story times all around town through the summer. Russo’s at The Marketplace has a regular story time Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Barnes & Noble on California has regular story time Wednesdays and Fridays at 10 a.m. The Beale Library (downtown) has story time Mondays at 10:30 a.m. The Southwest Library has story time Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. through July. You can check out all the summer library events at: www.kerncountylibrary.org.

And when you just need to get out of the house for a little treat, I want to recommend a new hot spot in town: Daddy-O’s frozen yogurt (in the shopping center on the corner of Brimhall and Calloway) has homemade gelato and self-serve frozen yogurt. Also, Sonic has happy hour from 2 to 4 p.m. every day where all drinks and slushies are half price. And, at night several times a month, there are “Movies in the Park” at one of our city parks around town. Check: www.bakersfieldcity.us, or: www.NORfun.org Web sites for details.

Road trippin’
Despite the cost of gas, it’s just so hot you want to get out of Dodge. If you don’t feel a breeze in the next 24 hours, you might go mad … well, then, hit the road! There are so many fun things to do with children within a two-hour commute from Bakersfield. The Hollywood Bowl has a daily summer program from 10 to 11:15 a.m. for children ages 3-11, which includes a concert and craft.

The first Thursday of the month is “free day” at Huntington Gardens in Pasadena, but you must reserve your tickets online or by calling (800) 838-3006. The gardens are a beautiful 120 acres with a library, bookstore and tea room on the grounds.

We recently discovered the Kidspace Children’s Museum in Pasadena, which is a very hands-on experience for children. They have climbing areas, a “bug” café, and much more. There are several zoos (Santa Barbara, LA, Fresno, Atascadero) within driving distance. If you join as a member at one, you receive discount admissions at all affiliated zoos.

Our local “zoo,” CALM, has summer camp from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 23 to 27 and July 21-25. They are partnering with the Kern County Museum for their camp this year. Find out more at: www.calmzoo.org. And, starting in July, they feature twilight at CALM by opening the grounds from 5:30 to 8 p.m. We love taking a picnic dinner there and then walking around to see the animals when it is cooling off in the evening.

Around the house
You don’t have to get out of the house to make great memories. You can build forts or pitch a small tent in the living room — then eat lunch in there. Let the children get out their sleeping bags and really camp out one night in the living room. Host a movie event at your home. Invite some friends, pop popcorn and enjoy a great film. Play a board game. It sounds old-fashioned, but it brings the family together and breaks the habit of always having the TV or video games on. Get out some water guns and water balloons and have a full-fledged war in the backyard! Your imagination (and your kids’ imagination) is the limit. For more fun ideas check out: www.familyfun.com.

Teach them values
With all this togetherness during the summer months, not all your activities have to focus on entertaining your children. Summer is a great opportunity to teach your children values such as how to care about others and think outside themselves. The Salvation Army, Here’s Life Inner City and Jesus Shack all have local opportunities year-round that your children can do with you. Or, your children could sell cookies or lemonade to raise money to donate to the victims of recent tragedies in other countries (such as the Cyclone victims in Myanmar or the Quake victims in China). Almost all the local churches host a week of VBS (vacation Bible school) through the summer where for about $15 for the week you can enroll your children in a week of fun morning activities that teach foundational principles for living.
Here’s to a great summer!

You gotta eat your spinach, baby!

You’ve just got to love Shirley Temple for singing that in “Poor Little Rich Girl.” Then there’s Popeye, who eats the canned variety, which always made school lunches go from barely passing to a total F!

I have a better idea. Keep in mind that if I own a measuring cup, it is probably full of loose change and lost marbles, so my measurements are approximate. I think of my kitchen as the hidden laboratory of a mad scientist — a place to experiment!

• 1 12-ounce bag of frozen spinach, chopped
• 1 8-ounce block of cream cheese
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 cup pecans, chopped
• 1/8-1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (You don’t want to actually
taste the nutmeg, but it helps smooth out the bitterness of the
spinach ... play with it.)

First, pour a glass of your favorite wine. It makes cooking more enjoyable. Dump the spinach in an 8- by 8-inch backing dish and add the cream cheese. Cover and microwave for eight to nine minutes then stir until creamy. Add remaining ingredients and stir until evenly mixed. Cover again and microwave three to four minutes.

To expand this recipe, you could add cooked sausage, shrimp or chicken served over rice or pasta. Toss up a salad and call it dinner. For dessert, ask Shirley. I’m sure she can recommend something from the Good Ship Lollipop!

Happy Father’s Day!

Happy Father’s Day, Daddy!

Love,
Your Little Yankee Fans
Nicole & Caitlin

Happy 13th Tatum!

Our granddaughter, Tatum Hartley, will be 13 on June 21.

Happy birthday to our First Rose of Summer.

We love you,
Gran & Papa

New indoor soccer season to begin soon

A new indoor soccer season will begin July 28 at The Vision Zone indoor soccer complex, 4309 C Well Tech Way. The deadline for registration (forms and money) is July 18. We will have all age and gender divisions, youth through adults. To register, call Roxanne at 319-0364.

Visit: www.zoneindoor.com for all forms and information.

Attention SW Sesame Street Lovers!

Attention Southwest Voice readers!

Do you love Elmo? How about Oscar, Grover, or Cookie Monster?

Share your favorite Sesame Street memory and you could WIN A FAMILY 4-PACK OF TICKETS to see Sesame Street Live on June 10th or 11th at the Rabobank Theater!

Hurry! Enter now! Last day to enter is June 7th!

Log on to www.swvoice.com and share your favorite childhood memory of Sesame Street (or maybe a funny memory of your child and Sesame Street).
Click "post something" and use the title: Sesame Street Memories, or
Click on THIS contest, click "reply or comment" and type your memory right there!

Grandparents, neighbors, teachers--you may enter and WIN tix for a younger someone in your life! Sesame Street Live would make a GREAT summertime surprise!

You may forward this announcement to friends, neighbors, anyone you think might want a chance to WIN FREE TICKETS! They must log on to www.swvoice.com to enter!

Here's the show info (from SesameStreetLive.com):

WHEN ELMO GROWS UP

Introducing Abby Cadabby! The newest Muppet on Sesame Street joins Elmo, Zoe, Rosita and all of her furry and feathered friends in asking, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ as they prepare for a pageant on Sesame Street. Get ready to sing cowboy songs, ride the rails and more with Sesame Street Live “When Elmo Grows Up.” When Elmo and his Sesame Street Live friends think about growing up, it’s a musical show-and-tell! as Bert dreams of becoming a forest ranger, Telly longs to be a cowboy and their newest friend, Abby Cadabby, wants to be a Fairy Godmother just like her mommy. Elmo thinks about becoming a ‘weather monster,’ but has a hard time predicting his own forecast—he wants to be anything and everything all at once! “When Elmo Grows Up” includes lessons on perseverance, teamwork and the power of imagination. Children learn that if they believe in themselves and are willing to try, the possibilities are endless.

Adults will hear music they’ll recognize and enjoy sharing with children, such as “Home on the Range,” “Down on the Corner” and “Give a Little Love.” “When Elmo Grows Up ” features nearly two dozen songs, including classics that children will love to sing along with such as “I Love Trash” and “Itsy Bitsy Spider.”

THE CAST
Bert, Big Bird, Ernie, Elmo, Oscar, Grover, Cookie Monster, Zoe, Rosita, Count Von Count, Abby Cadabby, Telly, Baby Bear, Prairie Dawn, Roxy Marie, Grundgetta, and Honker.

Southwest Voice Newsletter & reminder

Summer is here, Southwest neighbors!

Well, not technically, but if you have children, then you have a different perception of when summer officially begins (school's out!). In honor of summer, sun, fun, getaways, and vacations, The Southwest Voice is launching a summer-long photo contest called "Take The Voice on Vacation!" Click the link to get more info., but in the meantime, don't forget to take a copy of The Southwest Voice with you as you head out of town this summer! There's a prize for the BEST photo! Look, I even got things started:

That's me yesterday at Dodger Stadium, not really on vacation, but it doesn't matter! Just take The Voice with you and snap a photo -- and it could win!

Now, on to business! Have you seen the new issue of The Southwest Voice?

This group is from Loudon Elementary, and they do something very special, something no other elementary school (that I know of) in Bakersfield does. Click the photo above and read their story!

Housecleaning:

Submissions for the June 11 issue are due tomorrow, Tuesday, June 3. Don't forget your nominations for Athlete of the Month and Educator of the Month! Don't forget celebrations & announcements, or your iPod "Top 10" list, either!
If you're receiving The Southwest Voice in the mail but don't recall signing a subscription card, please send me an email and I will get a card sent to you, or,
Fill out the subscription card in the new issue and be entered to win a new iPod Shuffle
Forward this email/newsletter to 5 people you know do not receive The Southwest Voice so that they can start getting a FREE subscription and have a chance at our ongoing contests.
Please support our advertisers! They are part of our community, and they are the reason that our Voice is free!

Also, please feel free to send me an email anytime--if you think of a story or need questions answered, or just to give feedback. I am always around and I want to talk to you!

Take care,

Dana

Educator of the Month: Mrs. Bickham

Nominated by Jared Tholl and his Mom

We nominate Mrs. Bickham, a first-grade teacher at Old River Elementary School to be a Southwest Voice Educator of the Month. Mrs. Bickham challenges her student in a fun way. Jared has blossomed academically with her.

This is what Jared wrote on his own: "I like Mrs. Bickham because she makes us smart. When we get marble jar parties we have so much fun. When we get Deputy (student helper) we get to help Mrs. Bickham."

Mrs. Bickham not only cares about the academics of a student but about the students themselves. She is always willing to go to the extra mile.

Thank you for considering this nomination

Editor’s note

Well, the school year is winding down now and kids will soon be home for the summer. When my kids were young, I was so excited for summer vacation to arrive because it meant loose schedules, sleeping in and staying up late!

As my children grow up, though, the summers are shorter and seem quicker to arrive. Now I have a graduating senior, an incoming junior, and my youngest will be a freshman in high school. Where did the time go?

What I’d like is to start over, go back to when they were babies and take extra long looks at them when they are sleeping in their cribs. I’d like to play more games, read more stories, and forget about driver’s licenses and prom dates.

But that can’t happen, so instead I’ll cherish this stage as I have the others, watching with pride (and a few tears) as my children grow into adulthood.

But each stage is bittersweet, particularly high school graduation, where we will say so long to childhood friends making their way to college campuses all over the United States.

To the graduating seniors across the Southwest, I wish you a fond farewell and the blessings of the wonderful new life you are about to explore. Congratulations, Class of 2008!